He wrote collections of pibroch and ceol beag written in staff notation, which became the basis for standardised settings of music which had previously been shared by singing of canntaireachd.

[1] His three brothers played the pipes, and his father, John MacKay of Raasay, was a leading composer and player.

[3] After considering emigrating to America, the family moved to Drummond Castle near Crieff in 1823, as Angus' father John became piper to Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby.

[1][2] He became piper first to Sarah, wife of Peter Drummond-Burrell, and then successively to Davidson of Tulloch and Campbell of Islay.

[2] Joseph MacDonald published a book on bagpipe music in around 1760, but he died in India and his manuscript did not gain widespread traction.